India, Dec. 23 -- Did you know the real story behind the legendary Hermes Birkin - and the woman who inspired this pristine symbol of luxury? Far from treating it as a status piece to be hoarded in a closet, Jane Birkin valued the bag for its sheer practicality. In fact, instead of amassing an enviable collection, she owned just five Birkins in her lifetime, using each one as an everyday companion. She famously said she wanted a handbag that could "hold her entire life" - and she truly lived by that philosophy, redefining luxury through wear, utility, and a life well lived.

Paige Mengers, the founder of Phoenix Style, an online luxury resale brand, has traced the fascinating history of the legendary Hermes Birkin bag, and the story behin...